Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-21
PRACTICAL EDUCATION.
Ex.Superintendent j. OrmOud Wilson
Gives His Views at the Spencerian
Business College commencement.
Albaugh's Grand Opera House, May
IL. 1857.

young women and men who have diligently an
pi1ed themselves during the past year to that
study and discipline which should fit them more
especially for the practical duties of life called
business 1t SO happens, too, that this commence
ment OF the Washington Spencerian Business Col
lege Is It's twenty-first and this number suggests
arriving TO womanhoOd and manhood attaining to
maturity. 1t has been my good fortune to know
much OF The work OF this institution from the be-
ginning and 1T is from this more than from any
other source that 1 have been able to learn the
educational value OF the class OF schools TO which
this one belongS-SchoolS now established in an
the commercial centerS OF the country
In looking through the annual reports OF the
United states Bureau OF Education, whose accom-
pliShed head, the Commissioner, honOrs us with
his presence to-day, find that the special depart
ment OF education which this school so success
fully represents fills more and more space in that
valuable volume each succeeding year, and that
in the last decade the number of business schools
has increased from l31 to 2s2. anG the number of
students from 80 100 to 43, 7O6, a gain OF nearly
one hundred per cent; and find also that at the
same time there has been corresponding enlarge
the methods OF instruction.
The Business College, like most human institu-
lions, is the result OF gradual development. Its
germ was perhaps school in which only the art
OF penmansh1p was taught-an art, to be sure very
practical, useful, and important TO mankind. Then
book keeping was introduced and arithmetic the
elements OF law and the customs relating to COM
mercial and business transactions, familiarity
with and ability to draw up all the forms required
for these, and to properly conduct the correspond
ence connected Herewith, commercial geography
and history and the ready and Skillful use OF the
typewriter a ara stenograph The study OF the
its practical Uses is not overlooked, and students
are well trained in the ways of acquiring useful
knowledge from books, the great store houses OF
the past, and from newspapers, magazines and
other publications OF the day. The libraries of
these institutions now form regular item i'm their
Statistics and ut this time they Include more than
one hundred thousand 200, 600 Volumes
The work done by these schools is thoroughly in
learn TO do by doing. and hence we find IN each
Its bank and currency, its merchandise, and whole
sale and retail departments, and as far us may be,
all the forms or business materaliZed, that the
hand and eye may perform their proper functions
in education.
The one thing that is especially to be noted ia
the fact that the student is continually doing from
the day OF his entry TO the day OF his departure
His theoretical knowledge is TO great extent de-
duced from his practical training. At the same
time the Importance of ethical culture is not lost
sight OF. The student is required to learn and
practice self control, TO be prompt, industrious.
honest, exact, truthful, temperate, regardful OF
the rights OF Others for these moral qualities are
all essential TO any true success in the business
world.
1t has been well said that learning is essentially
seif-tuition, teaching the superintendent OF the
process, and the essential junction OF the teacher
consists In helping the pupil to teach himself.
Measured by this standard, the methods OF in
Structi0n in this business college must receive the
hearty Endorsement OF all intelligent educators.
There Is another point OF view from which these
schools appear TO great advantage and that is in
what they have done aud are doing for the adj
vancement OF women. They are thoroughly pre-
pairing them for great variety OF suitable en-
Payments in which formerly only men were en-
gagged, and which were regarded as exclusively
within their province. These schools have de-
monstrated the fact that women can be educated
successfully in business lines. and that they can
become quite as efficient us men when employed
rs pook-heepers, stenOgrapherS, type-writerS,
respondents, or in the more general duties OF a
clerk or proprietor in many branches OF business.
In TINS way new fields OF work are opened to them
and this must lead to a more equitable adjust
inent OF compensation for labor. Why pay women
less than men for similar ,COrht The question
will not down, and the answer must vet come in
the form Of an equalization of pay everywhere In
expressing these views in regard to the education
OF women, we nave In mind particular class or
conditions; they have general application.
The evidence or the practical usefulness OF our
Washington Spencertan Business College can be
pointed TO ON every hand throughout the city Its
graduates and students are now To be found filling
places requiring special ability and skill and en-
TIRE truStworthneSs in the Government Depart
m"ntS national and local, In the banks, counting
houses and Offices OF various kinds, and even In
the other schools, public and private When we
carefully investigate the work it does in a short
period or time, it at first seems to be Incredible
put as mas been well said, "Given teacher in
rig hit conditions, with right IDEAS with true en-
thuSiasm, in the presence OF a pupil with LOFTY
aims and power OF concentration, 1t Is astonishing
now much may be accomplished in very short
time. II does not propose to do the work OF u
| public school, but rather TO work in harmony with
! II. as Its practical supplement.
Inc 1ull ana complete definition OF education
/ nils vide space, and the public school, at it's best
can never occupy the whole OF it, 1t is a great
mistake TO try to put it in place OF the family and
the church, Of the professional and the trades
school, and OF various other Institutions each OF
winch has been wisely established, developed and
adapted TO its own special purposes.
Will not deta1n you longer, for know you have
come here this bright and beautiful May after
noon, when earth and sky are at their best and
tree and flower are rejoicing in the flood OF SPRING.
time, and when all nature beckOns you without, to
| give look, a word or approval and cheer TO the
young women ana young men who having been
dllgent and faithful in preparation, are now
| about 10 enter bravely upon the discharge OF the
here to unite with you in extending to Them a
hearty greeting and TO say to our most worthy
friends, Mr.. and Mrs Spencer: .'God speed you in
Your work for our city! May your educational
progeny be as numerous as the seed OF Abraham
OF old! The world will be better for it,,